Nneka Special! A Nigerian father and a German mother and grew up in Warri, the oil-centre of Nigeria, but, as teenager, she bravely headed off to Hamburg on her own, where a consistent musical career also suddenly commenced for the girl who had always sung.
'When your heart is as big as your afro' we read in her bio, and indeed: Nneka has her looks on her side. But she knows what she's singing about, and why, and she does it to sturdy, stimulating beats. Regular production partner DJ Farhot delivers the energy, that is: an exciting mix of hip hop, funk and afrobeat.
Nneka Egbuna, her name in full, now already possesses two CDs: 'Victim Of Truth' and 'No Longer At Ease', with especially singles 'The Uncomfortable Truth' and 'Heartbeat' as draw-cards. But you might know her from support acts to Patrice, Nas, Sean Paul, Gnarls Barkley, Femi Kuti, Lenny Kravitz... Or of course also from her brilliant recent visit to Couleur Café!
For those mad about Lauryn Hill, M.I.A., Santigold, Selah Sue... And of course not to be confused with Nekka or Neeka: also classy, but of another calibre.